This Indonesian Start-up Uses AR to Help Bring Learning to Life

Octagon Studio, which operates in part out of Indonesia, has been deploying augmented reality (AR) for educational purposes.

“Education can oftentimes get boring and intimidating, so by utilizing this technology, we aim to bring learning to life, to create enjoyment and spark the love of learning,” says Vina Aurelia, chief operating officer of Octagon Studio.

Aurelia adds that AR is beneficial because of its immersive nature and the fact it can more quickly explain concepts over more traditional modes of delivery. The use cases indeed sound as though they would fascinate your average student.

“If a student wishes to learn about a certain animal, for example, penguin, he or she doesn’t necessarily need to go to Antarctica thanks to AR technology. Or if a student wishes to observe an ant in detail, AR technology can accommodate that without necessitating the use of a microscope,” she says.

In addition to the visuals, Aurelia says augmented reality can also easily provide ancillary information about the topic, such as details about the animal’s body type, diet, natural habitat, and so on.

The main business model of Octagon Studio is B2C. They produce educational tools, such as AR flashcards, for the mass market. Aurelia says these are accompanied by a syllabus designed in line with the curriculum provided by an educational expert.

The company also does some B2B2C. Under this business model, the company licenses their AR platforms and existing AR assets to resellers in various industries, some of whom may already operate in the general space of educational products, toys, or technology.

These resellers then manufacture and sell the AR cards locally and, in many cases, localize them for the local market. According to Aurelia, the B2B2C model is favorable because it enables Octagon Studio to generate more revenue with minimal resources, create brand awareness, and accelerate their distribution.

AR eliminates scalability issues

Aurelia says that many analysts are predicting that augmented reality and virtual reality has reached an inflexion point that will lead to a market explosion in 2020.

“When wearable devices and motion sensors are getting more and more compact and common in everyday life, AR would be everywhere. So we’re excited to continue building AR business since the demands for it would be aplenty and AR technology does indeed help to make the experience simpler yet smarter,” she says.

If their current partnerships are any indication, Octagon Studio is well on its way to being a market leader in the new AR and VR landscape. The UK Space Agency, for example, is currently using Octagon Studio’s Space 4D + AR flashcard as a tool to inspire children to become astronauts.

“This is possible due to AR technology’s properties allowing young learners to observe various celestial objects come to life, including the rotating solar system with its many colors, rockets reaching space by breaking off components in mid-flight and even taking the Lunar Rover for a spin on the surface of the moon,” she says.

The Space 4D + AR flashcard also overcomes the scalability issue that can come with using physical models and products. “AR technology somewhat eliminates the issue by presenting realistic digital models capable of soliciting emotional attachments from learners/users,” Aurelia says.

Though the company cannot disclose details of upcoming projects and ventures,

Aurelia found it suffice to say they are developing newer and better ways to harness the power of augmented reality. “The general direction we’re heading as a company is to integrate these innovations into our everyday life as much as possible,” she says.

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